Dan Burn wrote his name into Newcastle United folklore on Sunday.
The defender, released from Newcastle United as youngster, scored the opening goal against Liverpool as the club won the Carabao Cup final.
Newcastle beat Liverpool 2-1 on Sunday, Burn and Alexander Isak scoring before Federico Chiesa’s strike deep into extra-time threatened to ruin the dream.
It has been quite the week for the 32-year-old. Burn has been called into the England squad for the first time and has now played a major role in helping Newcastle end their infamously long trophy drought.
The defender was brilliant throughout. Even aside from the goal, he proved imperious in defence in the kind of performance that will surely go down in the club’s history.
His story is the kind Hollywood script writers would enjoy.
Such was the level of his performance, Virgil van Dijk even seemed impressed.
Photo by Nigel French/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images
Photo by Nigel French/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images
Virgil van Dijk’s classy gesture to Dan Burn as Newcastle United win Carabao Cup final
Arne Slot paid a classy gesture to the Newcastle players after they won the Carabao Cup final and the Dutchman certainly wasn’t alone in that.
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Indeed, the Reds skipper followed suit.
As noted by Stephen Warnock on BBC Sport punditry duty, Van Dijk embraced Burn after the game. The Liverpool defender stood at the Newcastle huddle, standing around in order to shake each player’s hand.
A moment of class from Liverpool, who have had a hoodoo over Newcastle in recent years. Now, that is finally over.
Liverpool vs Newcastle United timeline underlined what an achievement winning Carabao Cup final was
Newcastle won the Carabao Cup on their terms. Of course, things got nervy after Chiesa’s goal but the fact is Eddie Howe’s team went 2-0 up against the Premier League champions-elect and were unlucky not to have scored more.
This was no smash-and-grab. Newcastle were much the better team, winning pretty much every duel and causing Liverpool all manner of problems.
Gary Neville was shocked that Wembley shook when Burn scored and that really set the tone. Two years ago, Newcastle were there to make up the numbers.
On Sunday, they were there to make the difference.